Tallying-machine



L. M. WHHEHEAD.

YALLHNG MACHINE."-

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1I.1919- 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

:1 f; 5;; adzented Sept. 20, 1921.

IN VEN TOR.

/ ATTORNEY.

L. M. WHITEHEAD.

TALLYING MACHiNE.

APPLICA'HON FILED AUG-11,1919.

Patented Sept. 20,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v INVENTO.

ATTORNEY.

L. M. WHITEHEA D. TALLYING MACH|NE.-

APPLICATION FILED AUG-11, {919.

1,391,0 6, v v PatentedSept. 20,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTO hw ada ATTORNEY.

xii

LINWOOD WHITEHEAD, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

TALLYTNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Application filed August 11, 1919. Serial No. 316,840'.

- transported from one place to another. It

is well known that a record or tally is kept of the number of truck loads, loaded on or unloaded from y freight cars, vessels or freight houses, warehouses or other transport mediums or storage places, and the usual practice is to employ a workman to perform the task of keeping record or tally of the number of truck loads. Mechanical devices havealso been used for this purpose and it is the principal object of this invention to increase the efiiciency of machines of this type, to provide improvedqneans for preventing accidental operation of the register mechanism; to prevent tampering thereof, to indicate the approach of the last of the predetermined truckloads, to place a barrier in the path way of the trucks when the predetermined loaded number have been vices of thisclass.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tallying machine embodying a simple form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken through the platform counted and to otherwise improve upon deof the vdevice: Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the back wall or cover removed: Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the barrier retrainer, the case being shown in vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3: Fig. 5 is. a side elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 4-, but showing the parts in released position: Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the register. actuating mechanism seen in Fig. 3 but showing the parts in effective position for tallying: Fig. 7 is an edge view of said mechanism looking in the direction of the elevation of certain members of the barrier release mechanism in released position: Fig. 12 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 1212 of Fig. 10, and Fig. 13 is a fragmental vertical section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawings, which illustrate a simple embodiment of the present invention, it will be'seen to consist generally of a platform 15 ('see Figs. 1,2 and 13) which is placed inthe path of travel of the trucks, and on which they must pass to and from the place from whence the loads are removed. Inclined approaches 16, 17 are removably secured to the platform and'preferably'are provided with guide bars 18 to direct the wheels of the trucks to the operating levers. Other guides 19, 20 are provided on the platform which extend between the bars 18, and a board 21 located above trucker steps when he crosses the platform.

The truck wheels pass through the passage ways a, I), left between the bar 19 andboard 21 and between said board and bar 20. An upright case on compartment 22 is secured to and extends up from one end of the platform and contains the mechanism for actuating the. various tripping mechanism, register mechanism, barrier actuating mechanism, and alarm, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. Conveniently, handles 23 are provided at one end of the platform for moving the device about, and rollers 24 are provided at the other end uponwhich rollers the device may be wheeled about.

The register actuating mechanism.

Pivotally supported in the platform 15, are four primary or platform levers 25, 26, 27 and 28 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 13), the upper edges of which are normally located above the bottom of the passage ways a, b, and said primary levers are adapted to bedepressed, in succession, by the truck wheels passing over the platform in either direction, but the mechanism is so constructed and arranged that operation of. the register 'and the lever 28' mechanism is only effected by the depresmoved across the platform in said direction the register will be actuated each time a truck passes the platform, movement of the trucks across the platform in the opposite direction having no effect on the registering mechanism. For convenience the lever 25 will be called the release lever; the lever 26 will be called thesetting lever; the lever 27 .will be called the register actuating lever, will be called the second release lever.

Pivotally supported in the lower end of the case 22 and extending transversely thereof are four secondary levers 25 26? 27 and 28 which are connected, respectively, to the grimary levers by links 25*, 26 27 and 28?. pring's 25, 26, 27 and 28 secured to the secondary levers and to some stationary part of the framework act to return the levers to normal'or inoperative, raised position.

- The release lever 25 is connected to a detent 29 (see Fig. 3) by the link 25", secondary lever 25*, a link or rod 25 a bell crank lever 30 and a, link 31 which is secured to the detent 29 and has a lost motion connec-' sprmg actuated by springs 29 30 secured to the detent 29 and bell crank lever 30 respec- -tively. The spring 30 acts to return, lever 30 to normal, inoperative position (see Fig. 3) after lever 25 has been released, and

spring 29' acts to swing the detent 29 over the setting arm 33 whenever the latter is swung down. Depression of the release lever 25 swings the bell crank lever in the direction of the arrow thereon in Fig. 3, and operates to release the setting arm 33, in case it has been set. If it has not been set, the bell crank lever 30 swings idly. on its fulcrum when the release lever is depressed.

The setting lever 26 is connected to the setting arm 33 by the link 26, secondary lever 26 and a link 26*. The settin arm 33 is pivotally supported on the gear case member 32 and one end 34 thereofbears against a register actuating link member. 35 and 0p I crates to swing it in the dire'ction of the arrow thereon in Fig. 3'-whenever the setting lever is depressed, thereby placing said link member 35 in position for operative engage ment with its companion'link member. 36. The link members 35, 36 have co-acting hook-like arm has een swung down, and the link member 35 has been moved into the posiortions which, when the setting.

the. link members 35, 36 in operative relation to each other. Furthermore, that unless the setting arm is held in such operative position the link member 36 may be moved up and down without effecting its companion link member 35'.

The register actuating lever 27 is connect ed to the link member 36 by thelink 27, secondary lever 27 and a link 37, and the link member 36 is guided to move in a vertical direction in guide brackets 38, 39 secured to the gear case member 32. A stop member or projection 40 limits the upward movement of the link member 36. Each time the register actuating lever 27 is depressed, the link member 36 is moved downward, but'unless the link member 35 has been moved into operative position (see Fig.

.6) the'link member 36 will be moved idly.

The upper end ,of the link member 35 is guided in a guide bracket 41 pivotally mounted on the gear case member 32, and it is connected to the register actuating arm 42 by a link 43. Aspring 42 connected to link 42 acts to swing it upward and a stop 42* limits its upward movement. A release lever 44 pivotal'ly mounted on the gear case member 32 has an end which is pressed against the link member 35 by a spring 45 secured to the other arm of the release lever 44 and to the gear case member 32. Pressure is exerted by the spring actuated release lever 44 in a direction tending to disconnect the hooks of the link members 35,-:

36 from each other," to thereby break the connection between said link members, 'so that after the setting arm 33 has been released from the detent 29 and swung back to normal position (see Fig. 3) the release lever 44 swings said link member 35 out of operative relationship with the link member 36. The link member 35 has a shoulder 46 thereon which is arranged to engage the detent 29 while the li k member 35 is being moved downward, to hereby disengage'the detent 29 from the setting arm-33, permittin the latter to be retracted from the link between secondary levers 28" and 25 and the link-25 and the function of said lever '28 is to release the detent 29 from the setting arm 33 in case it is accidentally engaged with the setting arm after the register actuating lever has been depressed by a truck passing-over the platform in the direction to operate the register.

ister'has been operated. In the form illustrated, dials and hands or pointers are e'm ployed. Means are provided, whereby certa1n indicating hands maybe set at the numeral on the dial, corresponding with the predetermined number of truck loads that are to be counted, and means are provided whereby an alarm is sounded shortly before the total number have been counted,

and a barrier is moved into the path over the platform when the total number of truck loads have passed over the platform.

In the simple form of register illustrated two dials 48, 49 (see Fig. 1) are employed,

which are secured on the front wallv 50 of the case-or compartment 22. On each dial are two annular rows of numerals (see Fi 9) the outer row indicating units and t e inner row indicating hundreds. Hands or pointers 51',- 52, 51 52 operated by the register mechanism are employed to indicate on the dials the number of loads passing o'ver the platform. The hands 51, 52 are driven bysimple gearing, operated by the register actuating arm 42, which, as shownfcomprises a ratchet wheel 53 faston a shaft 54 journaled in the members 32, 55 of the gear case. A pawl 56 (see Figs. 3, 6) carried by the. register actuating arm 42 and held in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 53 by a spring, advances said ratchet wheel one tooth or one step each time the arm 42 is swung down from the position shown in Fig. 6 and back to said position. A stop 56 is located on the gear gear case plate 32 engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and prevents retrograde movement thereof.

The shaft 54 has a pinion 58 secured thereon, which mesheswith a gear wheel 59 fast on the shaft 60 which carries the hand 51. The hand 52 is mounted on a hollow shaft 61 (see Fig. 12) which surrounds the shaft 60 and is driven from the gear wheel59 by a train of gears 62, 63 and 64, the gear wheel 64 being fast on the hollow shaft 61. Conveniently the outer row of numerals on the dial-may run numerically from 1 to 100 and the gearing for the hand 51 is consequently made to impart one complete revolution to the gear wheel 59 and hand 51 when the register actuation arm 42 has been operated one hundred times.

The gearing for the hand 52 is arranged to impart one complete revolution to the gear Wheel 64 and hand 52 each time the hand 51 has made ten complete revolutions. In other words, the hand 52 is moved onetenth of a revolution each time the hand 51 makes one complete revolution.

The gearing for the hands 51*, 52 of the dial 49 may be identical with that described for the hands of the dial 48, and comprises the pinion 58 and gear wheel 59 fast on the shaft 60 for the hand 51, and the pinions 62 63 and gear wheel 64 for the hand 52, the gear wheel 64 being fast on the hollow shaft 61" for the hand 52 The shafts for the gearing are journaled in the gear case in the ordinary manner, but the shaft 54 is slidably movable therein and it has a knob 65 'on its outer end by which it may be pressed inward to demesh the pinion 58 from the gear wheels 59, 59 which is done when setting the hands 51, 52. A coiled compression spring 66 bearing against the pinion 58 normally holds the pinion 58 in mesh with the gear wheels 59, 59 Detents 67 67 frictionally engage the teeth of the gear wheels 59, 59 to prevent accidental movement thereof.

The barrier and alarms.

Pivotally mounted on the case or compartment 22 is the barrier 68 (see Figs. 1, and 4) which is in the form of a rod or bar, normallyheld in inoperative position alongside the case by a hook or latch 69 and shoulder'70. A spring 68 operates to swing the barrier from inoperativeposition toa position barring passage across the platform.- Barrier releasing mechanism, operated from the gear wheel 64 is provided for releasing the barrier from the hook or latch 69 immediately after the last loaded truck of the predetermined number has depressed the register actuating lever and registered the total predetermined numher. In the simple form of barrier releasing mechanism shown, a vertically reciprocatory rod 71is employed for tripping the hook orlatch from its locked position. Said rod 71 is guided in brackets 72 secured to the wall 50 of the case 22 and is normally held in raised position by a pawl or detent 73, which engages with the underside of a shoulder 74 on the rod 71. A spring 75 secured to the rod and case acts to move the rod in a downward direction when it is released from the detent 73. The detent 73 is yieldingly held in engagement with the rod and its shoulder 74 by a spring 76.

Extending from the gear wheel 64 is a pin 77 (see Figs. 10 and 11) and normally lying in the path of travel of said pin is one end of a trigger member 78, here shown in the form of a rod or bar, the other end of which normally stands directly in front of detent 73. Said trigger is fulcrumed upon a pin 79 and also has a sliding connection with said pin which extends through a slot 80 in the trigger. A coiled spring 81 connecting the trigger with the gear case acts to hold the trigger in position with one end in the path of travel of the pin 77 and the other directly in front of the trigger 73. A stop or shoulder 82 on the case limits the upward pull /of the spring 81 on the trigger. The trigger is connected to the rod 71 by a link 83 which acts to swing the end of the trigger (whichcontacts with the pin 77) upward out of its way whenever the rod 71 is lowered to release the barrier.

The lower end of the rod71 is connected to a latch operating hook 84by a bolt 85, and a yielding connection between the two is provided by a spring 86 which is interposed between the rod 71 and hook 84. Said hook is pivotally supported on the inside of the front wall 50 of the case 22 and is connected to the latch 69 by a link 88, which is attached to the latch below its pivot 89. The latch projects out through a slot in the wall 50 and its upper edge is made concave to receive and hold the barrier in place. The

hooked end of the hook 84 normally overhangs and engages the top edge of the latch and cooperates with the link to hold the latch in raised position holding the barrier. \Vlien the rod 71 is moved down the hook .84 is swung .out. of engagement with the latch (see Fig. 5) the latter positively swung down to release the barrier, which is there upon swung out across the platform by the spring 68. To reset the barrier it is-swung back into the hollow of the latch and the latch raised, thereby, swinging forward the hook 84 into engagement with the latch and raising the rod 71 into locked engagement with the detent 73.

To signal the truckers, and thus warn them and the attendant that nearly all of' the predetermined number of truck loads have passed through the tallying device, means are provided for ringing a bell from the time that nearly all of the loads have passed until the last one has passed. Said means may comprise an electric bell 90, wired to a battery 91, and a-switch, comprising the detent 73 and a spring pressed contact member 92, which are interposed in the bell. circuit. A-setscrew 93 threaded with contact member 92-a'nd bearing against a stop 92 furnishes means of adjustment for the contact member 92 whereby the exact timing of making the contact between the contact members occurs. The parts are so arranged that before the trigger 78 com-- pletely disengag'es the detent '73 from the rod 71 it first forces the detent 73 into contact with the contact member 92 thereby closing the circuit and. causing the b61190 to ring.

sired, a gong 95 may be employed for signaling. each time that the register is actuated, the arm of said gong being connected to the register actuating arm 42 by a link 96.

In the operation of the tallying machine, the lower indicating means indicates the total number of truck loads that pass over the platform, and ordinarily the hands thereof are not set back after a predetermined number of truck loads have been counted but said indicator shows the total promiscuous loads.

' To set the upper indicator, to thereby op-' erate the barrier and sound the alarm when a predetermined number of truck loads have been tallied the knob 65 is pushed back, thereby demeshing the pinion 58 from the gears 59, 59, and the hands 51, 52 therethe setting arm 33 in case it had not been re leased therefrom, as for instance'if the setting lever 26 had previously been stepped upon or otherwise had been accidently depressed, After passing said release lever 25, the truck wheels depress the setting lever 26 thereby swinging downward the setting arm 33 and setting the upper link member 35 in position for operative connection with the lower link member 36. Simultaneously, the spring 29 swings the detent 29'over the setting arm 33 holding it in locked, operative position. The wheels'next depress the register actuating lever 27 thereby pulling down the register actuating arm 42 through the instrumentality. of the-connected link members 35, 36 and associated parts. During the downward movement of the upper link member 35, the shoulder or block 46, encounters the detent 29 and swings it back thereby releasing the setting arm. After the truck wheels have passed the lever 27 the. spring 42 returns the arm 42, the pawl 5t} thereupon advancing the ratchet wheel 53 one tooth and turning the hands one step.

After leaving the lever 27 the truck wheels depress the-second release lever 28 thereby positively retracting the detent 29 and positively releasing the setting arm 33 permitting the spring and lever 44 to swing the upper link member 35, out of engagement with the lowerlink member 36.

An empty truck passing over the platform in the opposite direction, depresses lever 28, thereby preventing connection'between the link members 35, 36. The truck then depresses lever 27 lowering the lower link member 36 without affecting the upper link member 35. It then depresses lever 26, setting the setting arm 33 and upper link member and then depresses lever 25, releasing said setting arm and upper link member. v

Shortly before the predetermined number of truckloads have passed over the platform, the pin 77 comes into engagement with the trigger 78, and moves it forward against the detent 73, moving it into contact with the contact member 92, closing the bell circuit. Movement of the pin 77 one or more steps, disconnects detent 78 from the rod 71, which is thereupon pulled down by the spring 75; the hook 84' is thereby released from the latch 69 and the latter swung down, thereby releasing the barrier, which is swung forward by the spring 68. When the bell commences to ring, the truckers are warned, that nearly all of the predetermined number of loads have been counted. The bell ceases to ring when the last load has passed. The barrier is'reset as has been explained, and the hands 51', 52 set for any predetermined number of truck loads within the limits of the capacity of the register. To prevent tampering with the setting hands, an electric contact member 97 is placed behind the shaft 54 with which said shaft contacts when depressed, said shaft and contact member 97 scribed, but intend, in the. following claims,

are in circuit with the bell which is caused to ring when the hands are being set.

It is to be observed, that the register cannot be actuated unless the levers are de-' pressed in succession and that no strain is placed on the mechanism by the passage of the trucks over the primary levers. The parts are simple and not liable to get out of order, and very little adjustment and care is required to keep them in perfect working order.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and tie to point out all of the invention disclosed herein. a I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a tallying machine the combination of a platform, primary, depressible lovers therein, connectible and disconnectible register actuating mechanism, operatively connected to one of said levers, setting means operated by one of said levers for coupling said register actuating mechanism, means for holding said setting means in operative position, mechanism operated by another of said levers for releasing said setting mechanism, and means for uncoupling said register actuating mechanism.

2. In a tallying machine, the combination of a platform, primary, depressible levers therein, register actuating mechanism operatively connected with one of said levers, and having two members, normally disconnected from each other, setting means, operatively connected to another of said levers, for connecting said two members when said other lever is depressed, means for holding said setting means in operative position, mechanism operated by another of said levers for releasing said setting mechanism,

and means for disconnecting said members.

nected to one of said levers, and having two members normally disconnected from each other, setting means operatively connected with another of said levers for operatively connecting said members, a detent for positively holding said setting means in operative position, a primary lever operated device for releasing said-setting means from said detent, and means for disconnecting said members of the register actuating means.

4. In a tallying machine, the combination of a platform, primary levers therin, actuated by the passage of loads thereover, register actuating mechanism, operated by one of said levers, and having two members normally held disconnected from each other, setting means operatively connected with another of said levers for operatively connecting said members, a spring actuated detent, for holding said setting means in operative position, and lever operated means operated by another platform lever for retracting said detent from its engagement with said setting means.

5. In a tallying machine,- the combination of a platform, primary levers therein, actuated by the passage of loads thereover, register actuating mechanism, operated by one of said levers, and having two members normally held disconnected from each other, setting means operatively connected with another of said levers for operatively connecting said members, a spring actuated ,detent for holding said setting means in operwith said setting means, operated by two primary levers, the levers for the setting means and register actuating means being located between the detent actuating primary levers.

-6. In a tallying machine, the combination of a platform, primary levers therein, two link members, one for operating a register and one operatively connected with one of said primary levers, said link members being connectible and disconnectible, means for normally holding said link members in disconnected position, a setting arm, opera-- tively connected to, one of said primary levers, for setting said link members inconnected position, a detent arranged to hold said setting means in operative position, holding the link members inconnected position, and operative connections between said detent and another of said primary levers for positively disengaging said detent from said setting means.

7. In a tallying machine, the combination of a platform, primary levers therein, two link members, one for operating a register and one operatively connected with one of said primary leverspsaid link members being connectible and disconnectib'le, means for normally holding said link members in disconnected position, a setting arm, opera tively connected to another of said primary levers, for setting said link members in connected position, a detent arranged to hold said setting meansin operative position, holding the link members in connected position, and operative connections between said detent and two primary levers, said primary levers for the link, members and set-' ting arm being located between the detent actuating primary levers.

8.v In a tallying machine, the combination of a platform, primary levers therein, register actuating mechanism operatively connected with one of said'levers, there being one member of said register actuating mechanism composed of two normally discon-- nected portions, setting means for said member, operatively connected with another of said primary levers and releasable means for positively holding said setting means in set position.

9. In a tallying machine, the combination of a platform, primary levers therein, reg-' ister actuating mechanism operatively connected with one of said levers, there being one member of said register actuating mechwanism composed of two normally' disconnected portions, setting means for said member, operatively connected with another of said primary levers, means for returning said member into inactive position and releasable means for holding said setting means in set position.

10. In a tallying machine, the combination of a horizontally swinging spring actuated barrier, movable from an inactive position to an active position under the influence of the spring, a. barrier holding latch, -a latch retaining member for releasably holding said latch in engagement with said barrier, a connecting member for actuating said latch retaining member and trip mechanism for said connecting member, there be ing a lost motion connection between said connecting member and trip mechanism whereby said barrier may be restored to in active position when said trip mechanism is in tripped condition.

11. In a tallying machine, the combination of a register mechanism having. an intermittently rotated element, an electric bell circuit, an'electric switch in said circuit and a switch actuating member interposed between said switch and a member of said intermittently rotated element, a partial rotation of said member of the intermittently rotated element serving to close the switch, and means for disengaging said switch actuating member from said member of the intermittently rotated element, sub stantially as and for the pur ose set forth.

' LINIVOOD M. 'W ITEHEAD. 

